17 
was perfectly dry, crumbled off the bones in a sort of light dust. You are 
all, I daresay, aware of the practice of burying gold and silver ornaments with 
the dead, so common among Indians. Some boys who were hunting for such 
valuables, found eyes like these in the heads of all the bodies which had been 
exhumed. Thinking from the colour that they had found gold, they collected 
as many as possible, and brought a pair to my cousin who purchased them, 
after assuring himself that there was no trickery. To the ‘caswal’ observer 
they are apparently human eyes : but this is in more senses than one, a ‘ghastly’ 
delusion! For it was remarked by some savant that the hole at the back of the 
eye, into which the retina fits, was wanting. Here then was a difficulty, but 
inquiry into the traditions of the aborigines, who lived near the cemetery, 
revealed that the Indians had selected the spot for a burial-ground, because the 
bodies became embalmed by the natural properties of the soil. 
*‘ Finding, however, that the eyes perished, they used to scoop out the eyes 
of their dead, and substitute those of a large cuttle-fish found in the Pacific 
Ocean. My imperfect knowledge of the subject will not allow me to theorize, 
and the nature of the soil in the cemetery is, I believe, unknown, I have there- 
fore only stated what I believe to be a fact.” 
H. S. Skipton then discussed at some length the “ Flowers of 
Virgil’s Georgics,” and, in conclusion, A. PRINGLE said a few 
words on the pests caused by the excessive increase of certain 
insects in particular years. 
Attendance at this meeting 27. 
MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 18th. 
Exhibitions were Corals, by S. BuLttER; a Working Model, 
illustrating the hot-water apparatus for heating houses, by W. KER; 
a box of rare Indian Shells, by C. Younc. 
W. Ker explained the principles of convection, tracing its - 
action in the great natural phenomena of the Gulf Stream, and 
Trade Winds. : 
A paper was read by S. Butter on “Coral Islands ;” which 
was followed by a description of the physiognomy of vegetation, 
shewing how particular classes of plants prevail in certain districts 
and give a distinctive character to the aspect of a country, by H. 
Reynotps. R. Opparp read a notice from Mature “On Singing 
Swans.” 
Lastly, Mr. Cummine exhibited a large garland-shaped vacuum 
tube. 
Number present, 53. 
MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 25th. 
Exhibitions included Cornish Plants and Insects, together with 
numerous Photographs, by Mr. Cumming; Breast-bone of Owl 
and Wing of Widgeon, by F. E. GANTILLON ; microscopic slides 
of Diamond Beetle. Some notes were read by R. L. SHUBRICK 
on “Epiphytes and Parasites.” Communications were made by 
F. E. GantiLton, through W. F. WELLs, on the differences 
